Suspects who fled from DPS, police face drug charges

A driver fled from a Department of Public Safety officer and caused a collision Monday afternoon By Jennifer Thomas

Robert Adams By Jennifer Thomas

Rafael Gracia By Jennifer Thomas

A driver fled from a Department of Public Safety officer and caused a collision Monday afternoon By Jennifer Thomas

A driver fled from a Department of Public Safety officer and caused a collision Monday afternoon By Jennifer Thomas

TEMPE – A driver fled from a Department of Public Safety officer and caused a collision in Tempe Monday afternoon.

At approximately 1:50 p.m., a DPS officer attempted to stop a Dodge Stratus on westbound Interstate 10 north of State Route 202 for a traffic violation.

DPS spokesman Harold Sanders said the suspect vehicle did not stop.

According to the Tempe Police Department, the officer ended his attempt to make the traffic stop. He pulled over to the side of the road and called for assistance.

Police say the Dodge exited I-10 at Warner Road. As the vehicle approached the intersection, the driver failed to stop at the red light and made a right turn from the left lane, colliding with two other vehicles.

The two occupants in the Dodge fled on foot into an industrial area.

Tempe Police Patrol and Phoenix Police K9 officers searched for the suspects and found them a short time later.

Police officers discovered approximately 150 pounds of marijuana in the trunk of the suspect vehicle. The street value is estimated at $75,000.

The occupants of the vehicle have been identified as Robert Bruce Adams Jr., 23, and Rafael Ramiro Gracia, 35. Both Adams and Gracia are being charged with transporting marijuana and possessing marijuana for sale.